International Day at International School Manila...Logan's 1st outing!

The Fam before heading out for the big day: Notice our "American" attire...what says U.S.A. more than an Old Navy t-shirt, right!?! ;o)

The kids at the flag ceremony: They had flags from every country tied around the balconies of the school. They announced each country and everyone from that country cheered as loud as they could. Boy, talk about a good way to learn which countries have the most people here! Judging from the cheers, I think it's definitely safe to say that there are a lot of Koreans, Chinese, Australians, and Americans here!! But there are also people here from countries that I didn't even know existed. Craziness!

Addie's class: It was fun to see everyone dressed up in clothing native to their own country. Addie only has 1 other American in her preschool class. Her teacher is from Scotland...notice the fun Viking hat!

Did you all know we had a pet octopus?! And Addie's self-portrait!! :o)

This is about the only picture I have of Parker since I spent most of the morning with Addie...you may have to look hard to see him...he's in the very middle in the navy shirt. This was at his International Day Concert. Each grade sang 2 songs from other countries.

And here's one of his songs if you want to take a listen....

The thing I like the most about living here is learning first hand about so many different countries and cultures! However, the more I learn..... it DOES make me very proud to be an American!!! We are VERY blessed...and most of us don't even realize how much! It's not until you leave that you really appreciate what you had!!

Our newest arrival in Manila

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I'm back...and the delivery

I'm feeling a little more like a person again and a little less like a milk dispenser...so that means it's finally time for a new post! Today is actually Logan's official due date...and here he is 3 weeks old already! Craziness!

I thought I'd post about the delivery, since everyone keeps asking me what having a baby in a third world country is really like. Let's just say that we thought it would be quick and relatively easy (from past experience), but it ended up being a lot longer and more painful than I had bargained for....although still doable and of course worth every minute!

I was induced early that morning, and because the pitocin worked so quickly with such a small dosage [the smallest dose my doctor has EVER had to give anyone], we all thought we'd have the baby by lunchtime. However that didn't turn out to be the case. Brett had been telling my doctor for months that he thought I shouldn't have an epidural. Well, he essentially got his wish! Because the epidural didn't work worth a darn!! It numbed my legs up really good, but that's about it. The hours just dragged on and on. I was having VERY strong contractions and labor seemed to be progressing rather quickly, but no baby was coming. The baby's heart rate also would drop with each contraction, but then bounce right back--which caused some concern. And I was in serious pain since the epidural did nothing for my stomach and back. I could tell my doctor was pretty concerned about something, but I didn't know what since she kept talking to everyone in Tagalog. At least in the States you kind of know what's going on since everything is said in English!! Now, I am glad that I didn't know what was happening but it was really hard at the time! My doctor didn't leave my side though, and after about six hours, she finally figured out that the baby's arm (which if you remember was in front of his face for EVERY ultrasound) was up by his head. He basically had his elbow bent over his head - blocking any forward progress. He was just plain stuck! This was something new to my doctor...never before had she met with such a stubborn elbow!

Since neither my doctor nor I wanted a C-section, she decided to consult her "big book of Obstetrics" for what to do. Turns out this had happened before (though very rare). The book said that the doctor can try to push the arm down, so that's what she did. She pushed, and pushed, and pushed, and pushed...for over 2 hours!! Let me just say, P.A.I.N.F.U.L!!! They tried to turn him, they had me switch positions hoping that he would move--but nothing worked. And through all of this his heart rate was still dropping with each contraction, but then rebounding like a champ afterward. And STILL my epidural was not working! Finally, my doc said if things didn't change in 5 minutes we'd do a c-section. Boy was I praying at this point...I was not going through all that pain and THEN having a c-section!! And Heavenly Father must have heard me because the doc was finally able to push the baby's hand down and he was on his way! My doc was yelling at everyone in Tagolog and about 20 people swarmed the room--male and female (I've told you before that a white lady attracts a lot of attention here...especially one in labor!). The doc got her robe on, and out the baby came.....just like that! But, he had the cord wrapped around his neck (hence the drop in heart rate), tighter than she says she has ever seen it before. He was blue....and his poor hand was completely purple from all that pushing! It was a little scary! But thankfully he is fine now, and his hand was just really bruised for quite a few days.

But here's the real kicker:
Apparently the "big book of Obstetrics" also said that there was 1 case where the doctor pushed the baby's hand back and it traumatized it so much that after a few days the entire arm died and they had to amputate it!!!! My doctor knew all of this when she was pushing Logan's arm back! No wonder she was SO stressed!!!! I told her I am SO glad she didn't tell me any of that...and I'm so glad they were talking in Tagalog now!!!

As for the hospital, well let's just say it ain't quite like home! For starters, I was the only delivery that day and it was during Holy Week...so basically EVERYONE from the entire maternity ward was in my room watching the white lady give birth! That was a little odd...especially when it included male orderlys!!! Also, it took them about 2 hours to find the tv remote for our room...so the tv was stuck on Tagalog cartoons for the entire time! They don't have epidural pumps here either....hence the problem with my epidural not working. The food was typical Filipino food (lots of rice soup, fish with the head still on, and just overall odd stuff)...which is not so good for the average American! They also expected me to walk to the nursery to feed my baby...which was on a different floor. So I would have had to walk down the hall in my hospital gown with no back, then get on the elevator with everyone else at the hospital (which they pack like sardines), and go find my baby. Then, I would have to sit on a hard chair behind a see-through screen to nurse using a really dirty nursing pillow. Sounds like fun, huh!!! Needless to say, I squashed that idea right away! I figured since I was the only delivery of the day someone would surely be available to bring my baby to my room, because I was NOT getting on that elevator with my white little American bottom showing!! Uh no, ain't happening!!! But the really crazy part of having a baby here is when we tried to take him home. They took us to the nursery to get him, and Brett put him in our carseat. I then put the blanket over top of him so it would help block out some of the pollution from all the car exhausts when we walked out. They looked at Brett and said, "Sir, you can't take him out in that (they didn't even know what the carseat was!)". He said, "Yes, I can!" About 5 nurses swarmed us and said, "You can't leave unless he is swaddled." Apparently the hospital rule is that the baby must be swaddled (in 90-100 + degree weather + humidity!), and must be carried out by hospital staff. Brett told them the baby was riding in a car, not a jeepney and he WAS leaving in the carseat. They followed us to the elevator and then said, "Sir, you have to sign a waiver if he is not swaddled." Apparently swaddling is better protection than a carseat! Can we all just say RIDICULOUS!!!

At any rate, it all worked out well aside from the few daily frustrations that you just learn to put up with here. And Logan is doing great! He is by far our easiest baby. He doesn't cry much at all and sleeps like a champ (with his elbow bent above his head no less)! He is just a happy, content baby....finally I get an easy one! :o)

The big 3-0

I'm really 30....how in the heck did that happen?! It sorta snuck up on me what with all our moving and crazy life changes the past few years. Brett however, was so proud that I would have our 4th and final child BEFORE I turned 30. Apparently he thinks that is quite the feat. I, on the other hand, am just happy not to be spending my birthday in the hospital of a third world country!!

We celebrated by going out for dinner at Hard Rock--my first meal out in QUITE some time (thanks to 7 months of bedrest)! But it was short-lived since I had to get home to the baby after only an hour. The kids had made a cake with some help from Aunt Betty Ann...and a pumpkin pie, my favorite!! I guess Brett must have really been listening to me complain last Thanksgiving about not being able to get pumpkin here! :o) He also got me some beautiful pearls!!

People keep asking if I'm having a mid-life crisis since I'm turning 30. When I ask why, they usually say something like, "Well, most people feel like they haven't done enough yet." Now those of you who know me well know that Brett and I have done more than enough crazy stuff so far in our marriage!!!

Here's just a few of the things we have done:
1. Moved 7 times in nearly 7 years (all across the U.S.)
2. Visited Germany and Austria
3. Lived through the craziness that was hurricane Rita
4. Gone on an Alaskan cruise
5. Been to all the U.S. coasts
6. Lived in Tornado Alley
7. Bought and sold multiple houses (boy, is that an experience in and of itself!)
8. Moved overseas
9. Experienced a few coup attempts, plenty of typhoons, and at least 4 earthquakes
AND
10. Both flown across the world and driven across the U.S. multiple times with young kids....now THAT is an experience!!!

So in case you're wondering....no, I'm not having a mid-life crisis because I "haven't done enough!"

He's Here

Time - 3:59 PM (Manila time)

Date - 3/20/08
Wt - 5 lbs 6 oz
Length - 47 cm (18.5")
Brown hair

Psych!

No baby today! The doc called at 11pm last night saying that she was chickening out. She was worried that I'm not technically 37 weeks yet (so he's not considered full-term). After about 15 minutes of deliberation, we decided to meet at the hospital at 7am this morning where she would do an ultrasound and monitor him for awhile...then she'd make her decision about whether to induce or not.

Anyone who's gone to the hospital thinking they are in labor, only to be sent home knows the disappointment. But this was a little different because we went w/o knowing what to expect....are we having a baby today, or not??? After the late night phone call, I didn't get much sleep either. So I was extremely tired and wasn't sure if I really even wanted to have the baby under those circumstances. So she monitored me, and I WAS having steady contractions (but what's new, I've been having them the entire pregnancy! And they aren't just braxton-hicks either! They are strong/labor-type contractions). The ultrasound looked good too...he looks completely ready to come out. The thing my doc was worried about is his breathing. She said most babies at 36 weeks are fine, but some of them have to stay in the nursery and be on oxygen for a few days. She said if it's between having the baby a little early and him being on oxygen, or waiting a few days and not having him need it....she wants to wait. And I agree! I would much rather have a healthy baby! She said she's 85% certain he would be completely fine coming today, but wants to wait until Thursday (the day I hit 37 weeks, and the baby is considered full-term) to induce.

So there you have it....Logan is keeping us in suspense a little longer! :o)

Baby update...is he coming or not?!?

Here's a little update for those of you who have been asking how the baby and I are doing:

He's doing great, apparently so great that he wants to come out NOW!! I've been having horrible contractions for the last week due to a VERY bad infection (the doc used 4 explanation marks in her text...so I think that says something!). Let's just say that it has been about THE most painful week of my life! The doc nearly sent me to the delivery room last week (she even texted me saying, "Are you sure the baby isn't coming out?" Uh, no--I wasn't sure of anything!). But I told her I didn't want to go to the hospital. I didn't have my bag packed (here you really HAVE to be prepared!!), and we didn't have our helpers here to watch the kids. So we really couldn't have gone anyway! I think they would have let me have him if I would have gone. Bummer!! But remember the scripture, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear"? Well....I wasn't prepared, and I was definitely fearing!! But now I AM prepared, and I am simply READY! I don't care what the hospital is like (even if there IS brown water and cockroaches), I am just READY to have this baby!!! :o)

The issue is Holy Week. It is a HUGE holiday here, and everyone leaves Manila...including doctors. So I have to either have the baby before the 19th, or wait until after the 24th if I want a doctor around. I'm really hoping she agrees to induce me on Monday the 17th!


Update: Just got back from my doctor....she IS inducing me on Monday!! Ya-hoo!!! That is if I don't go into labor before then?! We're both a little worried about that. It was a bit of a hard sell....until I told her about my previous doctor--the one that missed catching Addie and would have missed Lily too had the nurses not crossed my legs and held her in until he got back from his coffee break just down the hall! Boy did he come running!! Poor guy didn't even get to drink his coffee. He wrote on the front page of my medical records when we moved...and I quote: "BE AWARE!! Patient truly has rapid deliveries!" Uh, yeah...I tried to tell him that before but he didn't believe me until he nearly missed baby #2! :o) Hopefully this delivery isn't quite that crazy....but I do have a feeling it will be memorable none-the-less!!

Surprise!!!

Everyone was in on it (including Brett), and I was COMPLETELY oblivious to the whole thing....

This is how it all went down:

A couple of weeks ago my friend, Jenny (who is practically the carbon copy of me--so much so it's almost scary!), talked me into going to breakfast with her. The only problem was that I wasn't feeling well and wasn't sure if I was going to go. So Brett talked me into going by saying, "I think you NEED to go...this may be one of the last times you'll get out before the baby." And let me tell ya, he was pretty darn convincing!!! Still feeling a little reluctant because of how I felt (I knew I'd pay for it later), I agreed. The only thing was that I was going to be a little late because my helper (nanny/maid..for those of you not "in the know") couldn't get here at her usual time. I didn't think it would be a problem because it was just Jenny and I going. So I really didn't rush or worry about being on time, which is not me at all....typically I HATE being late!

I got out of the shower at about the time I was supposed to be leaving...but I didn't worry, it was just breakfast afterall. A few minutes later when I got a text from Jenny saying that she needed to take a pyrex dish to our other friend, Mary, because she was having a dinner party that day--I REALLY didn't worry because I figured she wasn't in any hurry either. And of course I got stuck in Manila traffic that morning on the way to Jenny's house...but again, I didn't worry!

When we got to her house, we rushed right out the door....which was a little odd, but I figured Jenny was just really hungry. We arrived at Mary's house about an hour after we had actually planned to be at breakfast, and Jenny told me that I needed to go in with her for a tour. So of course I went, thinking absolutely nothing of it and wanting to see Mary's house!

But this is what happened next:

The door opened and everyone yelled, "Surprise"! And boy WAS it a surprise!!! Notice my totally unsuspecting face...It took me quite awhile to actually figure out what was happening. I think I was in shock for most of the baby shower!

Notice Jenny.... She was SO sly, she even brought the pyrex in...which I found out later was a total prop!! Although, Jenny did tell me, "Mary IS having a dinner party today...YOUR dinner party!" Ha, ha!!! :o)

And here's the other culprits: The ladies from our Tuesday class/church:

These ladies are the absolute best!!! They are the people who keep me sane while living in this often insane and always VERY foreign place. They all brought yummy food (which I'm sure was A LOT better than anything Jenny or I would have eaten had we REALLY gone out to breakfast! :o)

It was a FUN morning and I am so grateful for these ladies and all the help and support they have given me! Not only did they throw me this surprise baby shower, but they have also been bringing meals for the last several weeks...and have plans to bring meals through the end of March! How great is that!!!!

As most of you reading this blog know, we have lived all over the U.S. (and now overseas) and have moved SO many times that I'm starting to lose track! I think we're somewhere around 7 or 8 moves in 8 years of marriage. So I'm used to doing everything on my own. It's what I've always done. But these ladies have taught me that its okay to accept a little help now and then...in fact, they have all but forced me to! :o) Its something that I think Heavenly Father has been trying to teach me for awhile....uh, like the last 8 years!!! But it took these ladies and moving to a foreign country for me to finally get it!


P.S. On another note: We had yet another earthquake! If you're keeping track (and I am!) that makes 3 relatively large earthquakes in the 18 months that we've lived here. I think I'm starting to get used to them though. Jenny called me right after it happened. She was a little shocked/worried/freaking out, and I was just like....oh another earthquake, oh well. It definitely was not as scary as the first one!! It's just a part of life here...just like hurricanes were a part of living in Florida and Texas, snowstorms were a part of living in the West, and ice storms were a part of living in the East. There's always SOMETHING to deal with...no matter where you live!! You just learn to live with it, I guess! :o)

Logan in 4D

He must be shy because we haven't had an ultrasound yet w/o his hands covering his face (and we've had A LOT of ultrasounds)! I guess he wants his cute little face to be a surprise!!

Time-Warp

So to make a long story really short: We went to the States for Christmas and had a great time! Boy was it good to get some REAL home-cooked American food, see family, and hit my much loved Target store!!! Yep, you guessed it...Target ranks right up there with seeing family!! Do any of you remember that old Calgon commercial (not that I even remember exactly what Calgon is)??? I just remember a woman in a bathtub after a long day saying, "Calgon, take me away!" Well, that's kinda how I feel about Target. I walked in, took a deep breathe, and went, "Ahhhhhh.......T..A..R..G..E..T!". Walking the aisles and seeing so much in one store was pure heaven!

And while I'm at it, let me just say that there is A LOT of new stuff out. Like: honey and chocolate Rice Crispies, mini cans of Lysol spray that fit in your purse (boy could we use that here!), and a lot of other fun stuff that I can't remember at the moment--but SO can't wait to try when we come back! I feel a little behind the times, I'm sure this is all old news to you guys.

Gosh, you leave the country for a year and come back feeling like you hit a major time-warp upon re-entry!!